Certification-check writer



Sept 1, 1925.

f p -1,551,811 .1. .1. Dur-'F1a ,v y y CERTIFICATION CHECK WRITER Filed sept, 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 4. .,1. t 8, ,m m s, 5 .y i t ,l e m 4 R, E T I A. w w c n .E K 1 ....km..4. K+ E D N ...u ."KB o w uw I m S 8MM Im w .M E F n.. Hm H F .l 4n E nu Sept l, 19.25-

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

come .1. burnin, or NEW Yoan, N. Y.

CERTIFICATION-CHECK WRITER.

. lApplication ile'd September 24, 1924:.v Serial N o. 739,740.

T0 all whom it may 00ncem:-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DUFFIE, a citizen of the IUnited States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and. State of Newv York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Certifications-Check Writers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to check protectors, particularly to a device for protecting the certification of checks.

There have been many instanQeswhe-re the amounts forwhi'ch certified checks are drawn have been raised, and the present in vention provides a device which prevents the 'raising of such checks by cutting Ainto the ypaper on which the check is written a limiting amount which becomesV a part of the certiiication of the check. Y I

In the preferred embodiment ofthe i'nventon, illustrated in the4 presentap'plica tion, the device operates in two stages, in one ofwhich it prints the certification leg end, including the date of certification, and a serial number.' I ntheother stage it prints a limiting amount-in a space left blankfcr the purpose within' thelimits of the certification legend and preferably renders this limiting 'amount indelible by cutting it into the paper 'of the check and saturating they incisions with ink.

The invention is-susceptible of various embodiments fallingwithin the lscope of my claims, but the best form 'now known to me is set forth in the accompanying drawings, inwhich: f L

Fig. 1 is a left side view of the machine showing the printing drum in elevated or retracted position `and adjusted to present the type face which prints the" certification legend. In this view certain portionsr of the casing are'broken away to show the internal construction'and certain 'other details are indicated in dotted lines.

Fig'. 2 is a View 'similar to'Fig". '1, 'showing the type 'face -for printing the certification legend lowered into contact 4with=the platen. In this view the casing is almost entirely broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical 'section through the complete machine on the axis of the 'printingdrum.

Fig. 4 is a plan view'of the complete'ma# chine with the coverbroken away to expose theV internal mechanism.'

1 mechanism.

Fig. 5 is fa perspective view of the plateny Fig. c is a detailed View of a fun Stroke Fig. 3 and illustrating how the type' faces` are guided to printing position.`

Fig. 8 is a view of the'printing drum and its connected indicating dial and actuating wheel. In this View the type faces for printing the certification legend are illustrated.

The machine is supported on a base frame 11 provided withfeet12 of rub-ber or the like and carrying a top plate or work support 18. VI4`o1'fmedintegrally withthe base frame 11 isa hood or housing 14 in which the printing drum' and other mechanisms are mounted. 'l Y. V

This housing overhangs the work rest or top plate 13 and-'is spaced therefrom a short distance, except at the extreme rear of the machine, to permit the insertion of the check or other slip to be printed upon. .Mounted beneath the work support 13is a yoke 15 whichcarries the platen. This yoke 15 is connected by screws 16 to the rear portion 0f the base frame 11 and it is similarly connected by two screws 17 to a web `1S formed integrally with ythe frame 11 near the front thereof. Mounted between the screws 17 and threaded into the yoke 15 are a pair of thrust screws 19 which bear at their' ends at the web 18. The screws 17 and 19 act in opposition to each other. Thus it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the yoke 15 relatively to the work supporting plate 18. The use of the opposed sets of screws permits the Vyoke to `be locked in position and the use' of two sets, one at each corner of the yoke, permits individual adjustment of the opposite sides of the` platen.

Thisplaten or printing surface is exposed vby an opening in plate 13 and comprises aV layer ofsuitableresilientmaterial 20 affixed lto the upper surface of theyoke 15 and in legend andl is cut into the paper the middle of the platen is cutaway to receive the serrating platen bar which coacts with ythe limiting amount dies, For this reason yoke and the platen surface 20 carried thereby are provided with a transverse slot or recess in which is mounted the serrated platen bar 21. The platen bar 21 is vertically adjustable by means of opposed screws similar to those used to adjust the yoke 15. As shown in Figs. land 3 the platen bar 21 is held in the groove by a pall' of screws 22 which pass through the yoke 15 and are threaded into the bar 21 near its ends. Near the screws 22 are opposed screws 23 which are threaded into the yoke 15 and bear at their ends on the under side of the platen bar 21. Thus either end of the serrated platen bar 21 may be adj usted vertically by means of the screws 22 and 23, and when adjusted will be locked firmly in position. The top surface of the platen bar 21 normally stands below the top surface of the platen 20.

Journaled in the housing 14 is a cross shaft 24 which carries two forward extending arms 25 tied together by a yoke 26 so that they move as a single piece. Carried by the forward ends of the arms 25 is a holddown plate 27 which is relatively narrow so as to overlie only a small portion of the platen surface 2O and which is provided with a longitudinal slotl 28 which exposes the serrated plate 21. The hold down plate 27 is normally urged downward by a spring 29 which is connected to the rearwardly eX- tending lever 30, and to a pin 31 on housing 14. A. finger lever 32 fixed on the end of the shaft 24 offers means for manually lifting the hold down plate 27 to permit insertion or removal of the check.

The structure just described provides a large platen surface 2O to support the check while itreceives the certification impression. The hold down plate 27 retainsthe check by pressing it into engagement with the platen along lines spaced from each other across the middle of the platen surface adjacent the serrated platen bar. Besides retaining the check in position during the certification impression, it also retains the check during the printing of the limiting amount and strips the check from the cutting and printing die as the latter retreats from the printing position.

Journaled in the two side members of the housing 14 are a pair of hub members 35 and 36 which are connected together by a yoke or bail 37 rigidly connected thereto. This bail is provided to cause the hubs to move in unison and it is so dimensioned as to clear the printing drum hereinafter described, and to permit independent movements of the drum and of the hubs and 36. The hubs 35 and 36 turn on ball bearings 38 which run on the margin of openings in the housing 14. TheV balls are retained in races formed in the hubs 35 and 36 to receive them by means of retaining plates 39 and 40 which are connected .with the hubs 35 and 36 by screws. Certain of these screws appear in dotted lines 1n Fig. 3.

In order to rotate the hubs 35 and 37 a crank arm 41 provided with a handle 42 is fixed to the hub 36. Its motion is limited tosomething less than 130 by limit stops. In order to retain the crank 41 in its norymal or upward position a clock spring 43 is provided. This spring is connected at one end to the hub 36 by inserting its inturned end into a slot as shown at 44 in Figs. 2 and 3, and is connected at its opposite end to a stud 45 (see Fig. 2) carried by the housing 14.

The actuation of the handle 42 rotates the hubs 36 and brings the printing drum into engagement with the platen, the printing drum being mounted eccentrically in the hubs 35 and 36 as hereinafter described. The printing drum carries as a part of the printing face an automatic numbering device which is advanced to the next number as the handle 42 returns to normal position. To prevent derangement of the number sequence it is desirable to provide a full stroke mechanism which will insure the complete movement of the handle 42 to the limit of its downward throw before permitting its return or upward movement.

Any full stroke device might be used. but I show and prefer a simple spring held pawl 46 which has a tooth 47 and which is pivoted at 48 on the inside of the housing 14. The pawl 46 is so positioned as to be in the path of the bail 37 and this bail is provided with teeth 49 with which the tooth 47 successively engages after the pawl is wiped up by the upward movement of the bail'. When the handle 42 is moved downward the bail 37 swings upward and it engages the pawl 47 and moves beneath it, such engagement occurring prior to the time at which the counter mechanism is affected. As soon as engagement occurs between the pawl 46 and the bail 37 reverse movement of the bail is prevented until the bail shall have been moved vto its extreme limit of travel. at which point it overruns the pawl 46 and permits the latter to swing to its normal posi- 'il' tion. When this has occurred, the bail 37 may swing back to its normal position, since it engages the smooth back of the pawl 46 and wipes the pawl out of its pat A shaft 50 is mounted in the hubs 35 and 36 in eccentric rela-tion thereto and so as to be rotatable therein. Fixed on the shaft 50 bv means of a sleeve 51 is the printing drum 52, which is cylindrical in form except that at one point it carries a flat printing surface 53 tangent to the periphery of the drum and hence protruding at its margin beyond the circular contour thereof. This printing surface is provided with type or dies to print upon the check the desired certification or otherlegendf,` y,These include two changeablevnprinting devices, ione of Whichprints the date of certification and the other of which prints the serial numberzofcertification. These changeable printin devices may assume a number of known loims, but I show and preferffor the dating stamp a ,plurality of. manually set type rings 54 mounted ,on a common axis and capable of Abeing individually set to print 'the month,

da-andyear. y c f *or the numbering devices I make use of `a known type; of; automatic numbering mechanism consisting of a plurality of `type rings 55, the units ringbeing advanced step by.stepone`digit ata time, bymotion of ratchet feedarm'56 (see Figs. `1 and 2) and the other rings of higher orders being actugated by `successive transfer yor carrying ,mechanisms Numbering stamps,fincluding :suchtype rings, ratchet feed arms and carrying mechanisms, are,standardV articles of commerce andA hence I `deem .itV unnecessary to illustratethis mechanism in detail. Ac-

eldingly,Y Ifnlusein `my(drawings merely the type ringsandthe ratchetk feed arm 56 which impartsl step-by-stepjunotion :to the i .e The cylindricalhportion of the printing drum A52 is provided with `a series'of spaced longitudinal dies 5.7,.each of whichfprints in words a characteristic limiting amount, as, for example, Eight hundred dollars. The variousv amounts;k printed .by the Successive dies may be chosen according to the needs of: the user. xBu/t it may be stated generally that this feature is similarr in its general aspects to that type of check writer which prints aV limiting amount somewhat higher thanthe actual amount of the check ratmhe," .than Printing the exactaniount ofk the check. y

-Tliediium, Aat itsfleft end as viewed in 111g. l3, isprovided with an impositive detent consisting ofa spring armY 60 having a roller 61 at its end,fthefroller6l engaging a series of shallow notches 62 formed in the endof the drum 52, AThe arm v60 is journaled on the shaft 50 and, projecting below that shaft, is guided at its lower Aend by vertical slot'63 lformed in .the wall l,of housing l4.x-The.point` of engagement of the arin60 withthe slot 63 is closelyadjacent that `die 57.on the `drinn 52which is in ,printing position. mAlccordingly, although the ,drum 52 moves transversely to its axis when it is moved to Vprinting position Vby the actuation offliandle '42, the detent is so` e *guided ,byV the, yslot ,63 that thedie is accuz rately presented.

Itr will be Aobserved from a. consideration of the eccentric mount `of' the shaft 50 inthe hubs and 36 that the` drum 52 hasl a slight rolliiigniovement ,as engagesthe platen.' Sincethedetent roller 61 `is positioned by engagement with the vertical slot 63 adjacent the printing point, the detent roller 61 actsA to insure accurate presentation ofthe die. The same effect is secured for the indicating pointer 64 which also is journaled on the shaft and is so connected to the detent arm as to be guided by the slot 63. This pointer 64 coacts with a dial 65 fast on the shaft 50. The dial 65 bears legends, one of which indicates that the certification stamp is positioned at the printing point and the remainder of which give similar indications with reference to the amount-limiting dies. A lrnurled knob or handle 66v is the means by which the shaft 50 is rotated to bring the Vvarious dies to position.

It'is rdesirable that the user be compelled to turn the printing drum inone direction only, for in this way complete Yinking of Athe drum by the inking-rollers, hereinafter 'I circular bearing in the Vpawl 69 to Areceive the stud 70, I vprovide the pawl with a longi` tudinal slot 71 (see Fig. 1)k and draw it into engagement with the ratchet` 68 by means of a spring 72 which performs the additional functionof sliding the pa-Wl forward on the stud to the limit of motion permitted by the slot If the user overrunsthe desired designation he -may turn the dial backwards an amount limited by the length of. the slot 7l, and no farther.

This insuresthat in the ordinary manipula- ,tion of the device the printing `drum will be turned in one direction andyetpermits slight reverse movement on occasion.`

Although the detentrollei 61 teiids'to position the printingy drum, it is important to lock the drum positively once its motion l towards printing position has commenced. This is effected by means ofa lug or blade 73 which enters notches 74 in the right hand end ofthe drum v52.4 Since it is desirable for mechanical reasons to place the guide 73 to one side of the shaft() instead of directly below it, the notches 74 are on lines secant to the periphery of the, drum rather thanongradial lines. This will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. i.

In order to actuate the counter mec-lianisni after each actuation of the certifying stamps, I provide ahook-lilie latch 7 6 which is pivoted ona stud 77 fast to the housing 14 and which is urged in engaging direcrtionby means of a spring 78 coiled around ythe stud 77. The normal position of the latch 76 is shown in Fig. l. When the drum 52 is so positioned as to presentthe certification printing face to the platen, the latch is in the path of downward movement of the lug 79`carr`ied by the actuating arm- 56 of the counter mechanism. As the printing drinn iiio\f`es"do\vn\vai-d to printing position the lug ('Qwvipe's back the latch 7 6 and justJ at the completion of the downwardmovement of the drum the latch snaps over the lug 79 to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the druni swings backward to normal position it moves both forward and upward, the latch 76 therefore draws the arm forward and down and the eflect of their conjoint movement is such that just as the arm 56 reaches its limit of downward movement it has so far overrun the nose of latch 76 that it suddenly cams back this latch and escapes therefrom; Upon its escape the arm 56 is'restore'd toits normal position by a retracting spring forming a part of the counter mechanism, and is therefore ready to repeat this cycle of operation.

It willY be observed that the lug 79 can-- -`not engage the'latchV 7G whenthe amountlimiting dies are pressed to the platen. Consequently, the counter is actuated only after the actuation of the certification printing dies. Since the guide blade 73 precludes rotation of the drinn 52 when the drum has been lowered very slightly from its normal position, there is no possibility of actuating the counter by the rotation of the drum.

In order to ink the drum I make use of a roller 81 which is carried on a pivoted bracket 82 and is urged into contact with the' periph-ery of the drum by a spring 83. The arm 82 is pivoted atSll to the housing 14. The balance of the inking mechanism is mounted in a removable cover S5' which rests on top of the housing 14 and which is retained thereon by a strip 8G engaging a fixed stud S7 and by a spring latch S8 engaging a latch stud S9. Ink is fed to the roller 8l yat each, actuation of the machine by means of 'a reservoir 90 whose forward end consists of an absorbent pad 92. The rear end of the reservoir 90 is sustained by a coil spring 93. The forward end is sustained by a pair of arms 94 fast on a shaft 95 journaled in' the cover 85. This shaft is held in its'normal position by a coil spring 9G and in such noriiial'position the reservoir 90' is retracted as' shown in Fig. l. The shaft' Q5'carries an arm 97 which is in the path of the bail 37 and as this bail approaches its limit of movement it engages the arm 97, drawing the reservoir 90 downward and forward and bringing the soaked pad 97 into contact with the roller 8l. The reservoir 90 is kept filled with ink which is vsupplied through the 'pad 97 to the roller and consequently with each actuation of the machine ink is supplied from the pad 92 to the roll 8l.

A fillingfop'ening"l closed by hinged cap 98 permits the reservoir 9() to be replenished fromv time to' time.

What 'is claimed is: l. Ina check certification?machine, the

Vcombinatien'of two printing instrumeiitalities', one arranged to'print a 'certification 'legen'd an'd Vthe 'sec'ondarranged' to yprint a limiting amount in close association with said legend, and actuating mean's Vcommon to the two printing instrumentalities and operable to act'ua'te said printing instrumen- A talities successively.

2. In a check certificationmachine, the combination of'two printing instrumentali- Vties,l one arraiigedtoVprint'- a certification legend, andthe second arranged to incise a limiting amount' inclos'e association with ysaid legenchand 'actuating' Vmeans common 'to the two' printing instrumentalities and operable2 to act'uate'k said-printing instrumentalities successively.' f'

3. Inj a :check certification' machine, the combination of two printinginstrumentalities, one arrangedj to'print a certification Alegend,'and the'secon`d farrairiged to print any selected one of various limitingy amounts in close association Withsaid legend; positioning means common t'o'both' said'print'ing instrumentalities arranged'to bring them to printing position successively; and a single yactuating means operable to make an impression f from4V whichever" printing instrumentality' is in printing-position;

4:. In a check certification machine', the

'combinationy of two printingY instrumentalities,I one"'arranged to print a certification 'legend and the'secondarranged to print a legend and the second arranged to print any Vselected'one of various limiting amounts in closeassociati'on with said legend; an auto- 'matic numbering device arranged to print a serial number'as al part of said certification legend, positioning means' common to both said printing instruinentalities arranged tofbring" thei'n to: printing position selectively;l a single actuating means operable to `make an impression fromV whichever printing instrumentality is in' printing position; and means for advancing said automaticv numbering device arranged to be actuated by said actu-ating means when the first namedk printing instrumentality is in printing position.

n 6. In a check certification machine, the combination of means for printinga certification legend, said means includin an automatic numbering device for printing a serial number as a part of the certification legend; means for printing a limit-ing amount in association with said certification legend; and means for advancing said numbering devicev by the printing movements of the first named printing means.

7. In a check certification machine, the combination yof two printing instrumentalities, one arranged toV print. a certification legend and the second arranged to print a limitinganiount in close association therewith; an automatic numbering device arranged to print a serial number as a part of said certilication legend; means for advancing said numbering `device arranged to be operated by the printing movement of said numbering device; actuating means common to the ltwo printing 'instrumentalities and.Y

operable to actuate said printing instrumentalities successively; and a full stroke device controlling the movements of said actuating means.

8. In a check certification machine, the combination of means for printing a certification legend upon a check; any automatic numbering device operable to'print afserialV number as a part of said certification legend; means for advancing said numbering device operableL by the printing movements ofA said printing means; and a full stroke device IDG BJIIS.

t 9. VIn a check certification. machine,the-

combination of a printing` drum provided with a printing face for yprinting a certification legendandwith a plurality of printing faces for printinglimiting amounts; an automatic numbering device carried by said drumand arranged to print a serial number as a part of said certification legend; means for rotating said drum to present thefvarious printing faces at the printing position; means for vshifting said drum to print anV impression of any printing face die so presented; and actuating means for saidrautomatic numberingdevlcearranged to be ,operated by said actuating means when, and only when, said numbering vdevice is in printing position. i n y 10. Thecombination vwith a check protect- `controlling the movements of said printing v v of a printlng drum provided withia subing device including a rotatable type carrying'printing drum, and inking meanstherefor, of a ratchet mechanism arranged to oppose backward rotation of said drum while permitting unlimited forward motion; and yielding means associated with said ratchet mechanism arranged to permit limited backward rotation of' said drum.

ll. The combination with a check protector, including a printing drum and inking meanstherefor, of' a ratchet fixed to the drum, and a yielding pawl engaging said ratchet and arranged to permit unlimited forward motion of the drum and limited rearward motion thereof.`

l2. The combination with a check protector, including a printing drum and inking means therefor of a ratchet fixed to the drum; a pawl coacting with said ratchet; a pivot for said pawl arranged to permit the latter to yield Vwhen urged by backward motion of said ratchet; and a single spring arranged to'urge said pawl into engagement with said ratchet and to oppose said backward motion. v

13. In a check protector, the combination of a printing drum provided with a substantially flat printing die for printing a certification legend and a plurality of incising vdies adapted to print limiting amounts; a platen having a face arranged to coact with said legend-printing dies, and having a recessed portion adapted toreceive` said amount-printing dies; a platen bar, for the incising dies in said recess;

means for` rotating said drum to present the various printing faces in printing position; and a mechanism for. moving s aid drum to print upon a sheet held bys'aid platen.

14. In a check protector, the combination stantially flat printing die for printing a certification legend and a plurality of incising -dies adapted to print limiting amounts; a platen having a face arranged to coact with said legend-printing dies, and having a recessed portion adapted to receive .said amount-printing dies; a platen bar for VVsaid platen andembracing the marginY of said recessed portion. e v

In testimony whereof`- I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN J. DUFFIE. 

